James Rodriguez signs for Real Madrid on six-year deal

James Rodriguez signs for Real Madrid on six-year deal as World Cup Golden Boot winner completes £60million move to become fourth most-expensive transfer ever

 

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez from Monaco.

The Colombia international has agreed a six-year contract with Madrid and underwent his medical with the club on Tuesday morning. He will be presented on Tuesday evening.

Neither club have confirmed the fee for the 23-year-old, but reports suggest Madrid have paid about £60million, which would make Rodriguez the fourth most expensive transfer of all time after Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.

JAMES RODRIGUEZ FACT FILE

BORN: Colombia, July 12 1991 (age 23)
2007-2008: Envigado (30 apps, 9 gls)
2008-2010: Banfield (42, 5)
2010-2013: Porto (63, 25)
2013-2014: Monaco (34, 9)
2014-NOW: Real Madrid (0, 0)
2011-NOW: Colombia (27, 11)

But why does he get called 'Hamez'?
In fact, that's how Rodriguez's first name should be pronounced, which ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley learned the hard way.
Tyldesley explained his pronunciation of the Colombia talisman's first name, which he dons on the back of his shirt, after being criticised for opting for the English version.
‘I am in the identification business, I am not a linguist. Believe it or believe it not, I do try to get pronunciations correct. And, yes, in his native Spanish language James Rodriguez becomes ‘Hamez Rod-reeg-ez’.
'The complications and dilemmas come when – like me – you are not a native Spanish speaker, or any other ‘speaker’ but plain English.'

A Real Madrid statement read: 'Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Monaco for the transfer of James Rodriguez, who will join the club for the next six seasons.
'The player will be presented today, Tuesday 22 July, at 20:00 (Spanish time), in the Santiago Bernabeu's presidential box.
'Following that, James Rodriguez will take his first steps on the Santiago Bernabeu's pitch wearing the Real Madrid shirt and will attend the media in the press room.'
Rodriguez was one of the revelations of the World Cup, scoring in each of Colombia's games as they reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the very first time, eventually losing 2-1 to hosts Brazil.
In total Rodriguez scored six goals at the World Cup to finish as the leading scorer - one clear of Thomas Muller - while his stunning 25-yard volley against Uruguay was voted goal of the tournament on FIFA.com.
His signing comes less than a week after Madrid brought in another of the World Cup's star performers in Germany's Toni Kroos, who moved from Bayern Munich for a reported £24m.
It also means that, if the reported figure is correct, Madrid now boast three of the four most expensive signings in history, having spent a world-record £80m on Bale last summer and the same on Ronaldo in 2009.
The Champions League winners would hold a clean sweep of the top three signings but for arch-rivals Barcelona, who splashed out a reported £75m on Liverpool striker Luis Suarez earlier this summer.
 

TOP 10 TRANSFERS OF ALL TIME

£80m - Gareth Bale (Tottenham to Real Madrid)
£80m - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United to Real Madrid)
£75m - Luis Suarez (Liverpool to Barcelona)
£60m - James Rodriguez (Monaco to Real Madrid)
£59m - Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan to Barcelona)
£56m - Kaka (AC Milan to Real Madrid)
£55m - Edinson Cavani (Napoli to PSG)
£51m - Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid to Monaco)
£50m - Fernando Torres (Liverpool to Chelsea)
£48.6m - Neymar (Santos to Barcelona)

But who's been bumped from the top 10 list?
£46m - Zinedine Zidane (Juventus to Real Madrid)

Rodriguez began his professional career with Colombian side Envigado before moving down to Argentinian club Banfield aged 17.
His performances for the Buenos Aires outfit attracted the attention of Porto, who signed him for £4m in 2010, and three years later he joined Monaco for £38.5m after helping the Portuguese side win a hat-trick of league titles and the 2011 Europa League.
The left-footed forward scored 10 goals in 38 matches in all competitions for Monaco last term as they finished second in Ligue 1 behind Paris St Germain.
Big-spending Monaco said they had not been looking to sell Rodriguez but described the deal as 'one of the most significant transfers in football history'.
Monaco vice-president and CEO Vadim Vasilyev said: 'AS Monaco is proud to have helped James Rodriguez reveal his talent to the world as he notably made his mark on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil winning the Golden Boot. James is a fantastic player who achieved great things with AS Monaco.'
A statement on www.asm-fc.com read: 'The club would like to take the opportunity to thank James for the role he played in getting the club back to the Champions League and wishes him the very best for the future.
'The club had no intention to sell the player, however the time came when the solution of a transfer was considered to be the most beneficial solution for all parties.
'Monaco is proud to be a party to one of the most significant transfers in football history.
'Monaco is a club that will continue to grow and remains focused on the future. More than ever it has the ambition to strengthen the team and continue to progress for next season.'